Uda Devi was a warrior belonging to the ‘Pasi’ caste, who participated prominently in the ‘Indian War of Independence’ of 1857. She was a member of the women’s squad of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of Awadh. Uda Devi was a resident of Lucknow and she had killed more than two dozen British soldiers by climbing a tree in Sikandar Bagh, Lucknow. However, after struggling for a long time in this battle, Uda Devi also got martyred. It is said that the Englishman Calvin Campbell, overwhelmed by her shocking bravery, took off his hat and paid tribute to martyr Uda Devi.
There is lack of much information regarding the brave woman Uda Devi. Her in-laws name is considered to be ‘Jagrani’. Her devotees have been strongly expressing the opinion that Uda Devi alias Jagrani got the strength to perform the courageous feat in Sikandar Bagh on 16 November 1857 due to the sacrifice of her husband ‘Makka Pasi’.[1]
Uda Devi was a member of the women’s squad of Wajid Ali Shah, the sixth Nawab of Awadh. Wajid Ali Shah continued to be a cause of controversy due to the establishment of Parikhana in ‘Daure Wali Ahdi’. After becoming Nawab in February 1847, he was repeatedly warned by the British Resident due to his love for music and luxury etc. Nawab Wajid Ali Shah recruited soldiers in his army in large quantities, in which poor people of all sections of Lucknow got a good opportunity to get jobs. Uda Devi’s husband was also very courageous and brave, he also joined the army of Wajid Ali Shah. Like buildings, gardens, music, dance and other art mediums, Wajid Ali Shah had given colorful diversity and attractive splendor to his army.
Nawab Wajid Ali Shah gave names of flowers like ‘Tirchha Risala’, ‘Gulabi’, ‘Daudi’, ‘Abbasi’, ‘Jafri’ to his platoons and also decided the color of the uniform of that platoon according to the color of the flowers. His beloved Begum ‘Sikander Mahal’ was made the Risaldar of ‘Khatoon Squad’. It is clear that Wajid Ali Shah had also given military qualification to some of his begums. He also formed a security squad of thirty agile women for the purpose of protecting himself and his fairies during the time of Bali Ahdi, who were also given military training as per expectations. It is possible that Uda Devi might have been a member of this squad earlier, because after becoming the king, the Nawab disbanded this squad and formally raised a women’s platoon. The uniform of this platoon was kept black.
Uda Devi participated in the war on behalf of Indian soldiers during the ‘First Indian War of Independence’ in 1857. She was a member of the women’s squad of Wajid Ali Shah, the sixth Nawab of Awadh. During the siege of Lucknow during this rebellion, ‘Sikandar Bagh’, the shelter of about 2000 Indian soldiers, was attacked by the British forces and on November 16, 1857, these 2000 Indian soldiers who took shelter in the garden were massacred by the British forces. Was.
During this fight, Uda Devi dressed herself as a man by wearing men’s clothes. During the fight, she had climbed a tall tree, taking with her a gun and some ammunition. They did not allow the attacking British soldiers to enter Sikandar Bagh until their ammunition was exhausted. Uda Devi attained martyrdom on November 16, 1857 after killing 32 British soldiers. British soldiers shot her while she was coming down from the tree. After that, when the British entered the garden, they riddled Uda Devi’s entire body with bullets. A statue of Uda Devi commemorating this battle was installed in the Sikandar Bagh complex a few years ago.
